The Grammy Award-winning singer is a co-chair for the 2026 edition of the Met Gala.The Grammy Award-winning singer is a co-chair for the 2026 edition of the Met Gala.
In a matter of days, the Metropolitan Museum of Art will transform for the 2026 Met Gala, celebrating the new exhibition, “Costume Art.” Monday will see a new collection of high-profile figures pose for photos on the iconic steps for the annual event, this year featuring Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as co-chairs.
Knowles-Carter hasn’t attended the Met Gala in 10 years. But the 35-time Grammy Award-winning artist has as deep history with the event. Ahead, WWD chronicles the “Break My Soul” singer’s Met Gala journey through the years.
Michael Buckner
The last time Knowles-Carter attended the Met Gala was a full decade ago. At the 2016 edition of the event, the “Levi’s Jeans” singer wore a latex gown courtesy of Givenchy. A designer she wore for several past Met Galas, this design, celebrating the theme Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology, was crafted with a latex fabric and featured puffy shoulders with long sleeves. The dress was cast in a peachy shade, with florals and pearls embellished on the lower skirt and bodice of the dress.
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For the 2015 edition of the Met Gala, Knowles-Carter went sheer. Styling a Givenchy dress by designer Riccardo Tisci, the dress was worn to commemorate the China: Through the Looking Glass theme. The gown featured a completely sheer fabric, which was encrusted at the hemline, bodice, waist and hips with warm jewels in pink, yellow and gold.
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Knowles-Carter went for dark glamour in another Riccardo Tisci design from Givenchy. The semi-sheer black dress was crafted with a plunging neckline and a thigh-high slit at the front of the skirt. Jewels added a touch of shimmering embellishment to the overall look, which was paired with a birdcage veil.
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Coordination was a focal point for the singer’s 2013 Met Gala attire. Celebrating the Punk: Chaos to Couture theme, Knowles-Carter wore another Givenchy look by Italian designer Riccardo Tisci. The black dress featured an ornate design with a thigh-high slit and a fiery hem for added contrast. The dress included material juxtaposition with a reptilian fabric bodice. Black gloves were added along with a pair of knee-high boots that accentuated the vibrant yellow and red motif at the hem of the dress.
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Sheer has been a major motif Knowles-Carter has turned to over the years at the Met Gala. In 2012, she wore a Givenchy Haute Couture design by Riccardo Tisci — a black dress with sheer fabric and allover jeweled embellishments and a feathery train that transitioned from black to purple as it trailed the singer on the red carpet.
Steve Eichner
Knowles-Carter opted for a floor-length gown by designer Emilio Pucci for the 2011 Met Gala. The form-fitting sleeveless dress featured a high neckline and a cutout just above the bust. Gold embroidery featured throughout the body of the gown and neckline. A fishtail-style hem created a more voluminous skirt in tulle.
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At her first Met Gala in 2008, Knowles-Carter wore a strapless light pink gown by Armani Privé. The dress featured a fitted bodice with a flowing train and feminine touches like ruffles.
